Clock bank



W. D. PENNINGTON ET AL CLOCK BANK Original Filed May 16,

x a A Y Jan. 2'1, 1930.

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES CLOCK BANK Application filed May 16, 1923, Serial No. 639,264. Renewed January 7, 1929.

Our invention relates to clock banks, and particularly to such as are controlled by coins so as to require the use and deposit ot a coin each time the clock is wound, therebynot only encouraging but requiring saving ot money.

One ot' the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and advantageous construction of clock bank, particularly of the class specii'ied.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for requiring the deposit of a coin in order that the clock maybe wound to permit its use. In carrying out the invention we arrange -for the control of the winding stem of the clock by means of coins, requiring the use of a coin in order that the winding stem may be released and turned to wind the clock. 117e also arrange for a supplemental locking device, preferably in the form of means for engaging the hands of the clock, which supplemental device is also under the control of t-he coin and holds the hands against movement until the coin is deposited, thereby insuring the deposit of the coin in order that the hands may operate and the clock therefore be of service. It' the coin is not deposited but is held for manipulation with the idea or intent of using the same coin several times in order to unlock the winding stem several times, nevertheless the hands of the clock will be held against movement until the coin is deposited, thereby preventing the aforesaid manipulation and requiring a coin deposit before the clock can really be of service.

It will be understood that other forms of locking devices may be used, it being seen that the clock may be locked against winding by other forms of locking means and may also be held against operation until the coin is deposited by other locking and holding means.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clock bank embodying our present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on lines 3 3 in Fig. 1;

F ig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form ot' device and- Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

Referring to the' drawings we show in Figs. l, 2 and 3 a clock bank embodying an outer shell or casing 1 provided with a clock 2 having hands 3 and 4.

A rotary coin carrier 5 is mounted for rotation on the pivot 6 and is provided with recesses 7, 8 and 9 for different sized coins, the recess 7 being adapted for a dime, the recess 8 for a nickel and the recess 9 for a quarter. F or determining which recess is adjacent the coin receiving slot, applicants contemplate using an indicator of conventional type. A coin is inserted into the bank through a slot or aperture (not shown), and falls into one or other of the recesses 7, 8 or 9. Rotation of the coin holder 5 will move the inserted coin upwardly in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2).

A device is provided for engaging the winding stem 10, this preferably being a pin 11 on the winding stem and an abutment 12 on -a swinging member 13 pivoted at 14. The swinging member 13 is controlled by a spring 15 normally holding the member 13 in retracted position wherein the pin 11 will engage the abutment 12 and so prevent the winding stem 10 from being turned, thereby normally preventing the winding of the clock. Another swinging member 16 is also provided at 14 and is provided with an inclined surface 17 which is adapted to be struck by a coi-n in one of the recesses 7, 8 or 9 when the coin holder 5 is rotated. This will swing the member 16 to the left against the resistance of spring 20. A stop 21 controls the movement of the member 16 by the spring 2O and an abutment 22 on member 13 is engaged by member 16 so that'said member 13 is swung to the left when the member 16 is swung to the left, whereby member16 actuates member 13 and so causes abutment 12 to move out of path of pin 11 and allow clock to be wound.

Furthermore, member 16 cooperates with a supplemental locking device for normally locking the clock against operation. While the form of device may vary, we show a device adapted to engage the clock hands 3 and 4. As shown, this device comprises a link 23 connected to a crank arm 24 on rotary shaft 25, at the other end of which is an arm 26 adapted to swing into and out of the path of the hands 3 and 4, in so doing passing through a slot or aperture in the inclined annular member 27 Thus actuation of the swinging member 16 by a coin in the coin holder 5 will not only actuate swinging member 13 to unlock the winding stem, but will also actuate the hand engaging device 26 so as to position it in place to engage the clock hands and so prevent useful operation of the clock. Operation of the member 26 to release clock hands 3 and' 4 and permit same to move normally, is accomplished by such a rotary movement on the part of coin holder 5 as to move coin into the coin box and thereby deposit same. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, a coin will be moved into coin slot 29 and thence into the coin receptacle and its deposit thereby insured, so that it may not be used or manipulated again. A prong in the bottom of slot 29 extends into a groove (not shown) in holder 5 and ejects the coin from the same as it passes. After this movement of the coin to insure its deposit, member 16 will be retracted by spring 20, thereby withdrawing arm 26 out of the path of the clock hands 3 and 4.

Thus in the use of the bank a coin must be inserted and the coin holder operated in order to unlock the winding stem 10 and permit the winding of the clock. This same operation of the coin holder will also move the arm 26 into the path of the clock hands and thereby prevent their movement, it being seen that the clock would be operated with the coin holder in an intermediate position in which it would unlock the winding stem 10, and being held in that position by the coin with the holder in such position. lith the hands locked, however, the clock could not run, at least for any length of time, for its hands would be caught. Therefore to insure the release of the hands and operation of the clock it is necessary to move the coin holder 5 its full distance, thereby depositing the coin, a return movement of the coin holder 5 being prevented by a spring clip 5a adapted to permit forward movement of holder 5, but to engage edge of same to prevent return movement. Hence a coin must be used each time the clock is to be wound and this coi-n must be deposited before the clock can run even though it is wound, whereby manipulation of the clock and winding of the same repeatedly by the use of one coin is prevented.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, we show a rotary coin holder 5 similar to the coin holder of the other modification. A coin in this holder will act against a projecting member 32 having an incline 33 on a vertically movable sliding member 34. This member 34 is normally held in a downward postion by a spring 35, but is moved upwardly by a coin striking surface 33. An inclined member 36 is mounted on slide 34 and acts against the end of a pin 37 which passes through the clock and is controlled by a spring 38. The front end of this pin 37 projects from vthe face of the clock and engages the clock hands 3 and 4. Thus the movement of the coin holder will cause the hands to be engaged as in the previous arrangement.

To free the hands and allow the clock to be set a vertically movable slide 40 is arranged above slide 34 and normally held in a downward position by spring 41. Slide 40 carries an abutment 42 adapted to engage pin 43 on windiner stem 10. Abutment 42 swings and is controled by spring 44. Thus when slide 34 is elevated by a coin in coin holder 5, it will also elevate slide 40 and thereby move abutment 42 out of the way of pin 43 and permit the winding stem to be rotated to wind the clock.

Tn` order, however, to cause the retraction of pin 37 slide 34 must be lowered and this is permitted only by rotating coin holder 5 to such an extent that the coin would be deposited. This lowers incline 36 and allows spring 38 to retract pin 37. When this is done slide 40 will also be lowered and this will permit abutment 42 to come into position to re-engage pin 43, thereby again locking the winding stem against rotation. Forward movement ofholder 5 is permitted and return movement prevented by spring clip 51 jamming the periphery of the holder. Thus as in the former instance, the winding stem will be released to permit winding of the clock and the hands will also be engaged to prevent operation of the clock until the coin is deposited, even though it may have been wound, thereby preventing tampering with the clock and repeated uses of the same coin.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

`What we claim is:

1. A clock bank comprising a rotary coin carrier, a swinging member arranged for actuation by a coin in the coin carrier, spring means holding said swinging member normally in retracted position, means adapted for projection in front of the face of the clock to engage the hands, said means being connected to and operable by said swinging member, a second swinging member having a projection adapted to cause its operation by the first mentioned swinging member and also having an abutment adapted to engage a pin on the winding stem, spring means for holding said second mentioned swinging member in retracted position, said swinging members being adapted to release the winding stem to permit winding of the clock and to project said hand engaging device to engage the hands on the initial movement of the coin carrier, and also to cause engagement of the Winding stem and retraction of said hand engaging member on the further movement of the coin carrier to deposit the coin.

2. In a clock bank, the combination of a movable coin carrier, a pair of movable members, one actuated by a coin in the coin carrier and the second actuated by the first, spring means for holding said movable members normally in retracted positions, means whereby the second mentioned movable member may lock and unlock the Winding stem by its movement, and means comprising a pivoted member for preventing the operation of the clock and a link connecting the pivoted member to the irst mentioned movable member, whereby the first mentioned movable member may prevent operation of the clock by its movement by a coin in the carrier, said movable members being adapted to relock the Winding stem and again permit the clock operation by the movement of the coin carrier to an extent to deposit the coin.

3. In a clock bank, the combination of a movable coin carrier, a pair of movable members, one actuated by a coin in the coin carrier and the second actuated by the first, spring means for holding` said movable members normally in retracted positions, means whereby the second mentioned movable member may lock and unlock the Winding stem by its movement, and means whereby the iii-st mentioned movable member may prevent operation of the clock by its movement by a coin in the carrier, said movable members being adapted to relock the Winding stem and again permit the clock operation by the movement of the coin carrier to an extent to deposit the coin, the means operable to prevent operation of the clock comprising a. device for projection over the face of the clock to engage the hands connected to and operable by the iirst mentioned movable member.

4. In a clock bank, the combination of a movable coin carrier, a pair of movable members, one actuated by a coin in the coin carrier andthe second actuatedby the first, spring means for holding said movable members normally in retracted positions, means whereby the second mentioned movable member may lock and unlock the Winding stem by its movement, and means whereby the first mentioned movable member may prevent operation of the clock by its movement by a coin in the carrier, said movablemembers being adapted to relock the winding stem and again permit the clock operation by the movement of the coin carrier to an extent to deposit the coin, the means operable to prevent operation of the clock comprising a device for projection over the face of the clock to engage the hands connected to and operable by the irst mentioned movable member, and means for preventing the return movement of the coin carrier. 

